YORK gallery According To McGee is collaborating with Staithes Gallery on the Yorkshire coast for an exhibition by "two of the most exciting, collectible painters of the North", Richard Barnes, from York, and Rob Shaw, from Staithes.

"We've never pooled our resources with a gallery before, but this felt right," says Ails McGee, the Tower Street gallery's co-director. "Greg and I have admired Staithes Gallery since they opened ten years ago, and Al and Dave Milnes are great people, so when the idea was mooted, we thought 'let's do it'."

The North ReMastered opens with a private view on Thursday evening from 6pm to 8pm at According To McGee; Resilience follows on Friday at 7pm Staithes Gallery. "Different titles, but the same battle cry: contemporary painting is alive and well, and you can put on all the installations, performances, and symbolic metaphors you like, but it is the very stuff of paint that keeps collectors coming back," says Ails.

Trust and respect is crucial to artistic creativity, she suggests. "Our staple artist Richard Barnes is always ready to unleash his latest glorious collection roundabout now, and Staithes has Rob Shaw ready. His star has been rising phenomenally," says Ails. "We thought, 'wouldn't it be great to mix these two painters'. Two galleries, two painters, and, in a sense, one exhibition."

Greg adds: "We're delighted to display for the first time the work of Rob Shaw, a self-taught painter, who's internationally sought after, and a Royal Academy exhibitor too.

"His latest collection possesses the elemental restlessness for which he's increasingly celebrated. He's a stalwart of the Staithes scene, since moving to the fishing village in 1995; collectors of York keenly anticipate his first show here".

Al Milnes is similarly enthusiastic. "Rob Shaw’s exhibition has been long awaited," she says. "Spectacular new paintings by one of our most popular artists will be on show, with Richard Barnes as the special guest.

"Rob has been working from time to time in recent years alongside this much-loved York artist and they've painted together in both York and Staithes, so we’re thrilled to able to show their work together."

The North ReMastered will run until June 27; Resilience will end on July 10.